Piedmont - Discover Italy Discover Italy Ai Weiwei at Palazzo Strozzi Florence hosts one of the giants of contemporary art Video Ponza: Unchanging Beauty On the Island of Ponza (the most important island in the Pontine Archipelago), nature triumphs with its gorgeous perfumes and colors, and its... Read more Faenza: the art of majolica The city of Faenza is very famous for one of the most ancient and sublime arts in the world: the art of ceramics, and, above all, for the special and... You are in Home / Discover Italy / Piedmont Piedmont Arona - Statue of San Carlo Borromeo Bardonecchia Novara - Architectural Complex of Broletto Verbania - Borromean Palace What to Taste Piedmont is in Italy's northwest and borders Switzerland and France. True to the meaning of its name (foot of the mountain), Piedmont is a land of mountains. It is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, with the highest peaks and largest glaciers in Italy.

Monviso, the Piedmont side of Monte Rosa and the other spectacular mountains in the region, create incredibly beautiful landscapes, and ski resorts abound: Via Lattea and Sestriere welcome winter sports enthusiasts with their state-of-the-art facilities. The Alps form the background for sweeping, picturesque valleys, e.g. the Val di Susa , Valsesia and Val d'Ossola. The landscapes of the Langhe and Monferrato are hilly, rather, but just as beautiful, a succession of cultivated hills and vineyards that are dotted with small towns and castles. Expanses of water and rice paddies, long rows of poplars and old farmhouses make up the typical scenery of the plains around Novara and Vercelli. Lake Maggiore is the most sought-after tourist resort, including Stresa and the Borromean Islands , charming as they are with their ancient villas surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens. Yet, nature is only one of the many attractions in Piedmont. This region has many other facets: from Turin – the Italian car manufacturing capital – with its history and remarkable cultural heritage, to other cities such as Cherasco, Alba and Ivrea .

Next up are the intriguing Medieval castles - like the imposing fortress at Ivrea - and prized works of architecture - the famous Residences of the Royal House of Savoy and the Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) certainly deserve to be mentioned. The famous spa resorts of Acqui Terme and Vinadio offer treatments and therapy for a relaxing, reviving holiday. Discoveries and surprises of all kinds are in store for visitors to the region, including a wide range of food and wine to suit every palate. The region’s provinces are: Turin (regional capital), Alessandria , Asti , Biella , Cuneo , Novara , Verbano Cusio Ossola and Vercelli . The first stop in exploration of this region should be Turin, with its Egyptian Museum, one of the largest in the world; the Shroud of Turin, one of the most precious relics in Christianity; the famous Mole Antonelliana dominating the city skyline and housing the National Cinema Museum; and finally, the Automobile Museum. The Reggia di Venaria Palace is a splendid and extremely charming architectural structure, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the other Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

From the Royal Palace and Palazzo Carignano in Turin to the hunting lodge at Stupinigi, and from the Royal Castle at Racconigi to Turin’s Palazzo Madama, a visit to the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy takes place partly in Turin proper, and partly in the surrounding countryside. The Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) are beautiful masterpieces of religious architecture spread all over the region's mountaintops: Varallo Sesia, Serralunga di Crea and Ponzano Monferrato, Orta San Giulio, Ghiffa and Domodossola. Other unmissable destinations are historical towns like Cherasco , “the town of star-shaped walls;” Savigliano, rich in monuments; Alba ; and Ivrea. The most famous abbeys are at Staffarda, an impressive example of Gothic architecture, and Novalesa, near Susa. The Sacra di San Michele is particularly important as well, a very ancient sanctuary whose religious aspects are in perfect harmony with both the architectonic and natural environments.

The Piedmont shore of Lake Maggiore is filled with famous resorts, such as Arona with its 17th-Century colossal statue of Saint Carlo, Stresa and the Borromean Islands , with accommodation facilities, villas and gardens. The ski resort of Sestriere - Via Lattea is one of the most important winter sports complexes in Europe. Many reserves and nature reserves dot the region, for example the Gran Paradiso National Park with its glaciers, natural lakes and protected flora and fauna. Rich in natural resources and landscapes, Piedmont offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy sport, to unwind and to be entertained, mixing leisure and culture. Against the unique setting of the Alps, internationally renowned locations such as Sestriere , Val di Susa and others offer a wide range of slope categories suitable for all kinds of sporting activity: from steep downhill skiing to cross-country skiing and ice-skating to snowboarding. Meanwhile those who love the thrill of adventure can climb the rocky mountains or raft on rushing rivers. In summer, the mountains and valleys offer trekking routes at different levels of difficulty, including some tracts on the Via Alpina with paths and well-equipped mountain shelters, from Monviso to the mountains around Verbania .

You can choose from many more outdoor activities: cycling along the River Po and around Vercelli ; mountain biking along the banks of the River Sesia; playing golf on one of the area’s various courses; and sailing, windsurfing and canoeing on the shores of Lake Maggiore . Nature also offers other paths for discovering the local culture and other of the region's facets: in the Germanasca Valley, for example, visitors can take a guided tour through the talc mines that made the history of this valley, or take a spiritual trek through the magnificent protected areas of the Sacred Mountains . Piedmont excels in its wine production, from Monferrato to the Langhe, from Astigiano to the Tortonesi Hills: the numerous wine trails lead to charming landscapes, with several stops at farms and wineries to taste wines and typical local produce, like the scented white truffle of Alba. If you are looking for health and wellness on your holiday, you can choose one of the renowned spas of the region, such as Acqui Terme, surrounded by the striking remains of a Roman aqueduct.

Finally, hit up a few internationally-acclaimed cultural events and festivals, like the Book Fair and the famous chocolate fair, “Cioccolatò,” that take place every year in Turin - as well as food fairs and cultural events including the famous Ivrea Carnival , the Palio horse race of Asti and many more. The most typical specialties of the regional cuisine are fondue and bagna cauda: two warm and out-of-this-world dips that celebrate the Alba white truffle and raw vegetables. Some of the many excellent dishes include the great mixed fry, braised beef in Barolo wine, civet of hare and a wide array of cheeses: toma, robiola, bruss from the Langhe, gorgonzola from Novara , and sernium from Biella .

The typical desserts of the region can be found everywhere: the chocolates of Turin (unforgettable are the exquisite gianduiotti chocolates made with hazelnuts from Langhe and Monferrato ), Novara biscuits, the bicciolani of Vercelli , the crumiri of Casale, the Cuneo chocolate sweets with rum and candied chestnuts, nougat from Alba, the baci di dama cookies of Alessandria and Asti , and the amaretti almond cookies from Novi. Finally, some internationally-renowned products like breadsticks and vermouth are from Turin. And Piedmont produces some of the finest red wines in Italy: Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Ghemme, Nebbiolo, Freisa, Grignolino, Barbera, and Dolcetto. Piedmont Wine Wednesday: Italy’s Piedmont – The Points Guy 0 This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page .

Welcome to another installment of our #WineWednesday series, where each week we give you a brief snapshot of wine regions all over the globe and insight on how to get there, where to stay and a few places you might want to visit while there. Today, TPG contributor Melanie Wynne invites us to explore the Piedmont wine region of northern Italy. One of the many castles of Piedmont with a backdrop of the Alps. Surrounding the central city of Turin, northwestern Italy’s Piedmont region (sometimes spelled Piemonte, and pronounced “peeya-MON-tay”) is renowned for producing some of Italy’s most sought-after wines, including Barbera and Barolo. The region’s single-varietal wines, made from grapes grown in clay soil on gentle hilltops and alpine slopes, have historically been used as raw material for wines made famous elsewhere. Since the mid-1990s, though, enterprising vintners have open increasingly high-end wineries around Piedmont, inspiring a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury villas perched above the vines. Piedmont’s wine country stretches over hilly landscapes.

Seventy percent of the vintages produced here are red, but the remaining 30 are some of the country’s most distinguished whites. The Piedmont produces seven wines labeled with the acronym DOCG (denominazione di origine controllata e garantita), which means they are guaranteed products of the Italian region where they were grown and made. Piedmont’s seven DOCG wines are Asti, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brachetto d’Acqui, Gavi, Gattinara and Ghemme. The region also offers 46 different DOCs, including several varieties of Barbera, Freisa, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo. The label DOC (denominazione di origine controllata) means almost the same thing as DOCG, but Italian wine authorities feel they veer from a more traditional path in terms of growing, tending, fermenting, overall style, etc. The Piedmont’s approximately 170,000 acres of vineyards are divided into three main areas: Barolo wine vintages in Langhe.

The Langhe: Southwest of Turin in the province of Cuneo, this area is Italian for “hills.” You’ll find the highest concentration of lodgings and eateries here, and some of Piedmont’s most expensive bottles. Many red wines here bear the suffix d’Alba, as Alba is the Roero’s largest town. Also found in the area are Barolo and its namesake DOCG, and Novello, home to its own sub-DOC, Langhe Nascetta del Comune di Novello, which is made from floral, fruity Nascetta grapes. Throughout the Langhe, unoaked Chardonnays are becoming increasingly common. This picture was taken during the summer season in Roero. The Roero: Named for a Medieval-era banking family, this hilly area set just north of the Langhe in the northeast corner of the Cuneo province is known for its fruits: pears, peaches, apricots and, of course, grapes. Its most popular wines are two DOCs, red Roero and white Roero Arneis, as well as the sparkling white Roero Arneis Spumante.

The red grape here is the light, tarry Nebbiolo, and the white is the floral Arneis, a temperamental grape that proves challenging to grow; Arneis provides a softening touch for the harsher tannins in Nebbiolo, and they’re often used together in DOCG wines, as well. Monforte stretches between the Alps and the Italian Riviera. The Monforte: Sometimes referred to as the Monferrato, this large area is set east of the Langhe and Roero, spanning both the Alessandria and Asti provinces; here, the d’Asti suffix is a common sight. Bisected by the River Tanaro, the Monforte’s landscape is half gentle hills and plains, half Apennine foothills. The Monforte is famous for truffles (harvested in the fall), bagna cauda (an anchovy dip served with raw veggies) and wines like elegant red Barbera d’Asti; dry and sparkling Asti Spumante; sweet Moscato d’Asti; rich, white Cortese di Gavi; and rosé Grignolino.

Come Arrivare (Getting There) The most convenient airport to the Piedmont is Milan’s Malpensa Airport (MXP), a two-hour drive east of the Langhe. Turin, the largest city in the Piedmont, also has an airport (Turin-Caselle, IATA: TRN) but there are no direct flights from North America and it’s still a two-hour drive from major towns in the wine region. Milan Malpensa Airport. You’ll find most major airline alliances represented at MXP, including: SkyTeam: Alitalia, Air France, Delta OneWorld: American Airlines, British Airways Star Alliance: Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, United Train service to the hilly and mountainous Langhe, Roero and Monforte is spotty to non-existent. If you’re up for an adventure that will require a good map, rent a car at Malpensa and drive yourself around the Piedmont. The major car rental companies represented at Malpensa are Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, National, Sixt and Thrifty.

Be advised, though, that the Piedmont’s sometimes narrow, steep or winding roads, coupled with the need for advance reservations at some wineries, may inspire you to stay in Milan or a larger wine-country town (like Alba or Asti) and hire a wine-country tour guide. Reputable tour companies include La Dolce Vita Wine Tour and Viator , as well as Butterfield & Robinson , who offer multi-day biking or walking tours through the region. Dove Alloggiore (Where to Stay) A Deluxe Room at the Four Seasons Hotel Milano. The Piedmont makes an easy weekend trip from Milan, which has most major points hotel brands, including a Radisson Blu, Hilton, Park Hyatt, Marriott , Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and Crowne Plaza. Visa Signature properties include luxury design hotel The Gray and fashion designer Giorgio Armani’s Armani Hotel Milano , and Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts include the Four Seasons Hotel Milano , renovated from a 15th-century convent, and fusty but celebrity-studded Hotel Principe di Savoia , which has one of the city’s best indoor swimming pools.

Other top choices are the cutting-edge Hotel Straf , full of glass and glitz and set near the Duomo, and budget-friendly Townhouse 31 , a cozy yet modern pied-à-terre set in a residential neighborhood, a 10-minute walk from downtown. If you’d prefer to wake up in wine country, though, there are a handful of villas and agriturismos amongst the Piedmont’s three areas that might just inspire you to make this region a lifestyle choice. Enjoy the view from Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s “School,” the restaurant at Locanda del Pilone. In the heart of the Langhe, Locanda del Pilone offers 3 guest rooms, 3 suites, a guest house and a 2013 Michelin-starred restaurant with a 1,200-bottle wine list. The guest house, set a short drive away from the main building, features a large double bed, two twin beds and a private garden. The restaurant, School, is headed by chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo (famed for his restaurant at the Villa Crespi , a luxurious hotel near Milan and Lake Orta) and features a vineyard-view deck.

Family-owned agriturismo Mongaletto , with 9 individually-decorated guest rooms and a large outdoor pool, is perched on top of a gentle hill in the Roero’s Castellinaldo, just a few miles from the towns of Alba and Bra. Their cozy on-site restaurant, overseen by two family members with experience in both catering and restaurants, offers seasonal cuisine with ingredients that have been grown and harvested from surrounding farms; cooking classes are available. Almost every point in the house offers expansive views of the valley and surrounding vines. The historic estate of Marchesi Alfieri Set in the Monforte between the hills of Asti and Alba, the lavish Marchesi Alfieri is a historic wine estate run by three daughters of a marquis; wines made here include a Barbera d’Asti and various Monforte varietals.

One of the property’s two guesthouses is adjacent to the wine cellars and divided into two private two-bedroom suites, both of which share public areas; the other house has four bedrooms and a hilltop view of the vineyards and nearby villages, and is suitable for a family or group of friends traveling together Dove Mangiare (Where to Eat) The exterior of Combal.Zero Ristorante. Over the last 25 years, the Piedmont’s food scene has been heavily influenced by the Slow Food movement, whose founder, Carlo Petrini, hails from the Roero. About 40 miles northwest of the Petrini’s hometown of Bra, the Turin area is home to several Michelin-starred, Slow Food-style restaurants, including: Combal.Zero , at the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art (30 minutes west of Turin, in Rivoli), which has earned two stars for its creative tasting menus; and Turin’s single-starred Locanda Mongreno , renowned for serving local Piedmont specialties alongside their deconstructed counterparts.

When in Turin, be sure to try a cup of bicerin, a locally-beloved beverage which blends melted chocolate, strong coffee and cream, and has been served at Caffè al Bicerin , set in the Piazza della Consolata, since the late 1700s. Also seek out some vermouth, a spirit first produced in Turin in 1757, preferably in martini form; the cocktail was named for local dry vermouth-producer Martini & Rossi. South of Turin in the Roero town of Canale (not far from Alba), All’Enoteca , the creation of thirty-something chef Davide Palluda, is half-laboratory, half-kitchen, turning out complex terrines and confits which use local game, peaches, nuts, Barolo and more. And even if you’re not staying at Locanda del Pilone, the villa’s Michelin-starred restaurant, School , offers shuttle service from nearby Alba. This photo of Vitello Tonato from Osteria La Libera is courtesy of TripAdvisor.

In central Alba, La Libera , a quiet spot with an open kitchen, serves lighter fare than you’d usually find in these parts, with a strong focus on locally-grown vegetables, egg pastas, and lean meats. It offers a few local standbys each day, including chickpea soup and a veal chop with tuna sauce, but the menu consists largely of daily changes to a seasonally-focused menu. Note: Many restaurants in the Piedmont region close for the last two weeks of August. Cantine da Visitare (Wineries to Visit) Here are a few places to try, set in the Roero and the Langhe: Pio Cesare winery was founded in 1881. Pio Cesare : Since 1881, five generations of the Pio family have run this Alba winery, specializing in single varietals like Grignolino, Freisa, Barolo, Gavi, Arneis etc. (+39 0173 440386 or piocesare@piocesare.it ) Braida’s winery farmhouse located on Via Roma, 94.

Braida : Dating back to 1961, this small winery near Asti has created some of the Piedmont’s most popular wines since the 1980s. Focusing largely on Barbera, the winery also offers two DOCGs: Brachetto (a light, sparkling red) and a sweet Moscato. (+39 0141 644113 orinfo@braida.it ) Roagna’s traditional wine, Barbaresco Pajè. Roagna : Now being run by the (very young) fourth generation of the Roagna family, the Nebbiolo-based wines at this eco-friendly Barbaresco estate are almost exclusively aged in French oak; the result are vintages with a shelf life of 20-30 years. (+39.0173.635109 or info@roagna.com ) There are occasional exceptions to the advance-reservations rule. The Azienda Agricola Rivetto tasting room in Alba (Piazza Garibaldi, 2) allows drop-ins to try its Barolos, Barberas and Nascetta.

Nearby, between Alba and Barolo, visitors can show up at the Ceretto winery and linger in the tasting room over a slew of Barolos and Barbarescos, Moscato and more. However, if you want a full tour of the place and a 3-wine flight (€10 per person), it’s best to call or email ahead. (Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; +39 0173 282582 or ceretto@ceretto.com ) Enoteca Regionale del Barolo at night. If you’d rather maximize your wine tasting time, consider bellying up to the bar at various enoteche (pronounced enno-TECH-ay), small wine bars organized by local wine associations, often in historic sites, to promote the pours of local producers. The Enoteca Barbaresco , set in the former Santa Donato monastery, offers the vintages of 130 different independent wineries from the Barbaresco area.

(Open daily, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Wednesdays.) The Enoteca Regionale del Barolo is in Barolo’s medieval castle of Marchesi Falletti and highlights the wines of the 11 surrounding towns. While you’re here, take a guided tour of the castle and adjacent museum. At both enoteche, be sure to ask for a wine map of their local areas, in case you change your mind and opt for some self-guided touring. A trip to the Piedmont wine region offers simple but decadent pleasures: world-renowned wines that range from crisp to earthy; rich game meats, tuna sauces and truffles; egg pastas like tajarin and agnolotti; creamy desserts like panna cotta; medieval churches and quiet agriturismos set on grassy hilltops and mountainsides; and roads that wind through farmland dotted with fruit trees and grape vines. The whole experience deserves a toast — with Asti Spumante, of course.

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For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards Intro APR TPG To Go Wallet Maximizer The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Piedmont | Italy Piedmont Verbania Tuesday, October 11th, 2016 31,115 inhabitants. A fairly recent province considering that it was only established in 1992, Verbania has an extraordinary location, right on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

It combines nature, mountains and national parks in the very favorable geographic location surrounding Verbania. Among those parks the one that definitely deserves a visit are the botanic gardens of Villa Taranto. They are actually the product of the hard work of Scottish man, Neil McEacharn, and today it is a rich garden Varallo Thursday, June 16th, 2016 Varallo, Piedmont Varallo is a comune and a small town located in Piedmont region in Italy in the province of Vercelli. The town is commonly called Varallo Sesia and is located in Valsesia region at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. Varallo is located close to the city of Vercelli and was once known are Varade. The town itself is divided into two different boroughs by a stream. Varallo is spread over an area of 87 sq km and has a population of close to 7500.

Varallo was Piedmont: Le Langhe Wednesday, May 4th, 2016 I was born in the province of Cuneo, near the Alps, in a village that looks like a still from a 1930's movie, where women still feel they need to have red lipstick and heels to leave the house and go buy bread, where Sunday is still the day you go to mass at eleven in the morning, then stroll down the portici of the main street, chatting with people and end up at the caffe' for a San Simone before lunch. The Langhe in Autumn Ph. depositphoto.com/rglinsky A village Candelo Thursday, April 7th, 2016 Candelo (Biella) Castle Candelo is a small comune and town located in the Piedmont region of Italy in the province of Biella. The town is located close to Turin and Biella and does not attract many tourists. Due to its medieval nature and its village like atmosphere it has become a center for agritourism in the recent years. It's a member of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" club, the most beautiful villages of Italy.

Many people who want to experience the lifestyle Residences of the Royal House of Savoy Sunday, March 20th, 2016 Royal Palace, Turin Ph. depositphoto.com/kasto Emanuele Filiberto, the Duke of Savoy moved his capital to Turin in the year 1562. He then began a large project to create a series of buildings and palaces to prove his power of ruling. These outstanding buildings were designed and decorated by some of the best known artists of that era and radiated into the outskirts of Turin. The complex also includes various country homes and hunting lodges. Some of the best known Macugnaga (Monte Rosa) Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015 Macugnaga - Monte Rosa Valley Macugnaga is a small mountain village located in the Piedmont region of Italy in the province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola. The village is located along the Anzasca valley in the Monte Rosa mountain range. The village was first inhabited by the Walser, which are German natives belonging to the Swiss Canton Wallis. The area is generally famous for winter sports, skiing and hiking and mountaineering activities in summer.

The village is also famous for its Temples of Damanhur in Northern Italy Thursday, September 3rd, 2015 Hall of Mirrors - Damanhur The quiet Valchiusella valley, close to Torino in Northern Italy hides a secret below ground. Unknown to most visitors and for a time even the Italian Government, this valley is home to a bewildering temple complex known as the Temples of Damanhur. The vast underground temples were begun forty years ago by a man who now goes by the name of Falco, following his lifelong vision. From a handful of followers digging under a house, the temples and the Getting to know Piedmont Saturday, August 15th, 2015 Sunset over the countryside in Piedmont Ph. depositphoto.com/rglinsky The 150th anniversary of the Unification has been only a handful of years ago so, if you are heading our side of the pond soon, it's a must to visit where it all started, Piedmont. Piedmont, land of stupendous mountains and great lakes, is one of the cradles of Italian culture.

It is the birthplace of or highly influential on many of the leading figures in the history of Italian modern Turin History Saturday, December 6th, 2014 Torino by night Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region and is located in the northwest area of Italy. Torino, as the Italians call it, is a major industrial city that lies along the Po River. The Po stretches from Mount Monviso in the Alpie Cozie (Southwestern Alps) to the Adriatic Sea near Venice. Torino is home to one of the most famous relics of Christendom, the Shroud of Turin, and some of the most outstanding museums (The Egyptian Museum is the second Turin and the Salone Internazionale del Gusto Terra Madre 2014 Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 Turin barely needs to scrub up for a date: she is magnificent, no matter what. She is haughty, self assured and confident, aware of her charms and beauty, even when she wakes up after a night of debauchery and too little sleep.

An old time tempress, Turin gets me every time: as a moody teenager, when I started university, I could not stand her, then, just as it happens so often when you fall in love, she bewitched me and I was lost. ...and here is why: from the popular BBC series Italy Turin Itineraries Monday, September 29th, 2014 Turin Itineraries and Tours La Mole Antonelliana, one of the symbols of Turin Piedmont has some of the most decadent and beautiful of all landscapes of the Northern area of the country, however, it’s also a region left relatively untouched by mass tourism. Or so it was until a decade ago, when the treasures and tranquility of this land were discovered. This beautiful region is often defined as “Tuscany without all the tourists”, due Lake Orta Sunday, September 28th, 2014 The Lake, Once Described as a "Pearl" by Balzac, is a Treasure Waiting to be Discovered Lake Orta and San Giulio Island, Piedmont Ph. depositphoto.com/Crisferra Lake Orta and its surroundings are quiet, beautiful and filled with gorgeous architecture.

It is an enchanting spot, much less crowded than the larger lakes in the area. Located in northern Italy, in the Piemonte region, on the west side of Lago Maggiore, the modern name of the lake was bestowed in Piedmont / Piemonte Saturday, September 27th, 2014 Piedmont / Piemonte The name of the region derives from the Medieval Latin term Pedemontium, which means "at the foot of the mountains." Piemonte is aptly named, as it lies at the foot of the Alps and has a culture and dialect that is closer to the South of France than other parts of Italy. It is bordered by France and Switzerland, as well as the Italian regions of Liguria, Valle d'Aosta and Lombardia. The area occupies the plain of the Po river valley, and produces Cuneo Saturday, September 27th, 2014 Piazza Galimberti in Cuneo, Piedmont Ph. depositphoto.com/rglinsky The Piedmont region is a collection of different landscapes and, to a certain extent, slightly different cultures, as well.

Bordering France and Switzerland, it offers the Alps as well as plains and hills that provide the perfect environment for some of the world's best wines. Its proximity to two different countries also provides for some language differences. The main local dialect is Lake Maggiore Wednesday, May 21st, 2014 Lake Maggiore viewed from Maccagno - Panorama Ph. depositphotos/elesi Of the three large pre alpine lakes of Italy, Lake Maggiore is the westernmost and the second largest after Lake Garda. The lake acts as a border between Lombardy and Piedmont and a part of it also sits in Switzerland (which can be reached from Italy either by train or by a short ferry ride.) Lake Maggiore is less crowded than Lake Garda and less glitzy than Lake Como, offering one of the most Asti Friday, June 1st, 2012 Asti city hall Asti is one of the well-known towns in Italy, which lies in the valley of Tarano at a distance of around 55kms from Turin. It is one of the renowned centers of wine production in Italy due to the excellent quality of grapes found in this region that yields top quality wines.

Asti offers some interesting tourist attractions including museums, cathedrals along with some important monuments, which are worth visiting. Besides, there are numerous festivals and events that take place Cherasco Friday, June 1st, 2012 Cherasco Cherasco is a small commune and town located in the Piedmont region in Italy in the province of Cuneo. Cherasco is located close to the cities of Turin and Cueno. The town is spread over an area of 81 sq km and has a population of close to 7600. The town has still retained its medieval essence with its old buildings and monuments. Cherasco does not attract many visitors but due to the rise in agritourism in Italy, there are a few people who visit the town to experience the relaxed Novara Friday, June 1st, 2012 Novara dome entrance Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara. It is located in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy.

It population density of a little over 100,000 makes it the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin and the second largest urban area of the Piedmont region with 190,000 inhabitants. It is a central crossroad for commercial traffic among the routes from Milan to Turin and from Genoa to Switzerland. Novara lies between the Agogna and Terdoppio Rivers Turin - Torino Friday, June 1st, 2012 ﻿ ﻿ Turin viewed from the tower of Palace Madama Ph. flickr/Andrea Mucelli The enlightenment writer Montesquieu once dubbed Turin as "the finest village in the world" thanks to a modern city plan begun in the 17th century. While many Italian cities can be a warren of twisting side streets, Turin boasts wide avenues with arcades, large squares and plenty of palazzi.

To get a bird's eye view of the city take a glass elevator ride to the top of La Mole Antonelliana, which is sort Bene Vagienna Friday, June 1st, 2012 Bene Vagienna Bene Vagienna is a small town and commune located in the Piedmont region in Italy in the province of Cuneo. The medieval town is located close to the cities of Turin and Cuneo. The town is spread over an area of 48 sq km and has a population of close to 3500. The town has several narrow cobblestoned streets, charming old houses, porticos and small piazzas that can transport visitors back in time. The history of the town goes back to the period of Augustus, when the town was an Biella Friday, June 1st, 2012 View from Burcina Park. Ph. Depositphoto.com/rcaucino There are many stories of travelers who spend their time viewing Europe at their own speed, through hostels, hiking, biking and rail. Keeping their own pace, rather than one of an organized tour they tend to see their experiences a little differently than others.

Many locations take on a different flair when seen through these eyes. Many different locations are usually seen, as well, through this mode of Shopping in Piedmont Friday, June 1st, 2012 Piedmont on the Italian map The region of Piedmont in Italy is spread over an area of 25,399 sq km and has a population of around 4.4 million. The region is surrounded by Alps on three sides. It shares a border with France and Switzerland the regions of Aosta Valley, Liguria and Lombardy. The region has quite fertile land, because of which agriculture in the region is of high quality. The main products that are grown in the region are cereals, maize and fruits. The region's economy is also Alagna Valsesia Friday, June 1st, 2012 Alagna Valsesia, skiing hut Alagna Valsesia is a village and a small commune located in Piedmont, Italy in the province of Vercelli. The village is located on the Val Grande Mountain in the Valley of Valsesia alpine.

Alagna Valsesia is located at an altitude of 1152 meters and is a popular tourist destination for winter sports, skiing and mountaineering. The village is spread over an area of 72 sq km and has a population of only 432. The village was originally settled by Walser and is Alessandria Friday, June 1st, 2012 Alessandria The romance languages have long been thought of as beautiful languages to speak. Vowels roll off of the tongue in ways that make the words come out in song rather than in prose, or so it seems. The nouns used in these languages are no different. Persons, things and especially places come alive when said out loud. As we travel around the Italian peninsula we find no shortage of cities and towns with names and cultures that make these images come to life. The town of Alessandria Neive Friday, June 1st, 2012 Neive Neive is a small comune and town located in the Piedmont region of Italy in the province of Cueno. The town is located close to the cities of Cuneo and Turin.

Neive is spread over an area of 21.2 sq km and has a population of approximately 3000. Neive is basically famous for its wine producing region and there are several vineyards located close to the town. The town does not attract many visitors except for those who are interested in wine. Because of the rise in agritourism in the Mergozzo Friday, June 1st, 2012 Mergozzo, Piedmont Mergozzo is a small commune and town located in the Piedmont region in Italy in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. The town is located close to the cities of Verbania and Turin. Mergazzo is spread over an area of 27 sq km and has a population of approximately 2000. The economy of the town is based mainly on tourism that the Lake Mergozza attracts, all of which falls within the commune. The quarrying and stone work of the region is also a main source of income for the Vercelli Friday, June 1st, 2012 Vercelli cathedral Vercelli is a city in the region of Piedmont in northern Italy.

The city is located between Milan and Turin close to the River Po. Vercelli is an important cultivator of rice and there are plenty of rice paddies around the city. The weather here is quite typical for this region, foggy cold winters, hot summers, frequent rainfalls and thunderstorms. According to many historians, the city was first founded around the year 600 BC and was one of the oldest urban cities in this Santa Maria Maggiore Friday, June 1st, 2012 Santa Maria Maggiore Santa Maria Maggiore is a small village and a commune located in the Piedmont region of Italy in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. The village is located 25 km from Verbania and 130 km away from the city of Turin. Santa Maria Maggiore is located on the border of Switzerland. The village is quite small, with an area of 53 sq km and a population of close to 1200.

Santa Maria Maggiore's economy is mainly based on agriculture and cattle breeding activities and is not Barolo Friday, June 1st, 2012 Church in the town of Barolo (Cuneo) Barolo is a small town located in the Piedmont region in Italy in the famous wine producing region of Langhe. The town is famous for its many vineyards and its many varieties of red wine which are made from the nebbiolo grape. Barolo is located in the Cuneo province and it can only be called a village. Barolo is spread over a tiny area of 5.6 sq km and the population of the village is only around 750. The village is located close to the cities of

Question: Which is the major city of the Italian region of Piedmont?
Answer: Turin